First Changes Made To The '08-'09 Season

This off-season, the CFL competition committee agreed to a standard field size instead of the previous inconsistent and adjustable field parameters stated in the CFL Rules & Regulations manual. The previous field parameters consisted of a field 78-yards long and about 25-30 yards wide, but in order to promote more uniform playing conditions the competition committee approved a more practical and slightly shorter field 70-yards long and 28-yards wide, evenly split into ten 7-yard sections. These new approved field measurements in the CFL are more inline with the dimensions of the other two pro-football leagues in the U.S., the National Football League and Arena Football League. The CFL field now sports a length-to-width ratio of 10-to-4 (70 x 28 yards), more aligned with the NFL's length-to-width ratio of 10-to-4.4 (120 x 53 1/3 yards), and even closer to the AFL's length-to-width ratio of 10-to-4.29 (66 x 28 1/3 yards). One other issue that the league's competition committee was considering was moving up the spot from where kickoffs take place from the 2-PAT line (currently) to the 3-PAT line which has been proposed. This would increase the chances of a team recovering an onside squib kick/throw from the 3-PAT line (unless it is fair-catched on a high throw/kick, in which case the kicking team would have to allow the the returner the space and opportunity to make the fair catch) and would probably lead to a onside kick recovery percentage more similarly inline with the NFL's onside kick recovery percentage of about 20-25%. This "kickoff line" issue will be resolved in the coming weeks, but a poll has been posted in case any players wish to submit a vote or opinion which will be taken into consideration as the competition committee decides to accept or reject the new proposal.